ALEXANDRIA – The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) today announced that the city of Alexandria has been approved for an $85,239 emergency Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for a levee repair project. The existing 7- and 10-inch drainage pumps used to transfer seepage and surface water runoff from inside Alexandria’s levee system have become obsolete due to age and condition. Excessive rainfall the past several years, especially in 2008 and 2009, have caused the pumps to run continuously for weeks in order to keep up with the surface water which accumulates within the Mississippi River levee system. Without the pumps, property within the city would flood.The need for replacement pumps is significant due to the upcoming spring thaw and resulting rise in the river.The CDBG program, administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, provides grants and loan funds to cities with a population under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 to assist in a variety of public works and economic development projects.On Thursday, March 18, 18th District Senator Wes Shoemyer attended a public hearing on the proposed project in Alexandria.